'I Wasted A Whole Year Of My Life': Walkout Rattles Trade College Students

Megan Goldsby

Educators at the school – which provides instruction in health-related fields, including medical and dental assistant, pharmacy technician, and surgical technology positions – walked off the job Wednesday over claims that they haven’t been paid since late November, according to The Press-Enterprise.

“Our [Alcohol and Drug Counseling] teacher has been here every day,” said student Ilene Murdoch. “His house is in foreclosure, he has handicapped children, but he shows up every day.”

Consisting of about 850 students at the South Gate campus and two others in San Bernardino and Los Angeles, the 23-year-old Career Colleges of America (CCA) is currently under a “cash management” status by federal regulators – a clear sign of financial distress.

CCA staff refused to explain the situation to KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO, but some students said despite reports that another school was going to take over in a management capacity, no one could provide any real answers.

“The only thing y’all could tell me is that I can sign some paperwork to get my money back?” said student Orlando Towner. “I feel like I wasted a whole year of my life right now.”